MINUTES

 

Spring Lake Village

June 20, 2005

7:30 P.M.

Barber School Meeting Room

102 West Exchange

Spring Lake, Michigan

 

I.  Call to Order

  

     President Keller called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

 

II.               Pledge of Allegiance

 

 

III.          Roll Call

 

A.              Present:          Filber, Fischer, Holland, Keller, Palma & VanStrate

Unexcused:   Hall

 

  On a motion by Fischer, support from Holland, to excuse any absent council              members, council member Hall was unexcused from the council meeting.

 

                     Yes:              0                      No:                  6

  

 

IV.                                 Reports and Statements of Citizens:

 

No reports or statements of citizens were presented.

 

V.  Consent Agenda

 

A.              Approved the payment of the bills in the amount of   $526,535.08.

 

B.              Approved the minutes of the June 6, 2005 meeting. 

 

C.              Approved rescheduling a public hearing initially set for June 27th to Wednesday, June 29th at 7:30 PM to solicit public comment on a combined notice to the public of no significant impact on the environment and notice to the public of a request for release of funds for the proposed Lake Pointe Project and for use of up to $400,000 of CDBG funds from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation for a total estimated investment of up to $8,000,000 of private funds at 917 West Savidge. 

 

D.              Approved endorsement of the sixth amendment to the ambulance agreement between the North Ottawa Community Hospital Authority and the municipalities.

 

E.              Approved and directed President Dan Keller to execute all necessary documents associated with the public hearing set for June 29th for the proposed Lake Pointe Project and for use of up to $400,000 of CDBG funds from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, in lieu of or in addition to, the Village Manager’s execution as certifying officer.

 

F.              Approved the cancellation of the Village Council meeting for July 5, 2005 due to lack of agenda items. 

 

G.              Approved a new five-year bulk service agreement with Charter Communications and authorized the Village President and Village Clerk-Treasurer to execute.

 

H.              Approved demolition of the structures owned by St Mary’s Catholic Church at 428 East Savidge, units A and B.

 

I.              Waived the noise ordinance for a parking lot dance to be held by the 510 Properties businesses on Saturday, June 25,2005 until midnight.

 

J.              Authorized $26,850 for the Village’s share of the local match (50 percent of the estimated power line relocation expense) for the West Savidge streetscape project.

 

    On a motion by Filber, support from Fischer, the Village Council approved the Consent Agenda as presented.

 

                                          Yes:                 6                      No:                  0

 

 

VI.                                   Report by the Village Clerk-Treasurer

 

A.  Held a public hearing on a request by St. Mary’s Catholic Church to rezone 428 East Savidge, units A and B, and 440 E. Savidge to “Public” from “Single Family Residential B” and subsequently approved such rezoning.

 

Subject:  The Village Planning Commission considered this matter on May 24, 2005 and did not recommend approval of rezoning for any “Public” uses on Exchange; rather, they recommended approval for the property on Savidge only.    The Church since amended their request to preserve the homes on Exchange Street for as long as possible.  Manager Cotton commended St. Mary’s for being interested in the greater welfare of the Village.

 

President Keller declared the meeting open to hear public comment at 7:38 p.m.

 

Mary Casselman, 320 E. Savidge Street, pointed out to the village council that even though 440 E. Savidge Street was demolished, the church still wanted to have that parcel considered for rezoning.

 

The Village Council had previously tabled the rezoning of 440 E. Savidge Street.

 

On a motion by Fischer, support from Holland, the village council closed the public hearing.

 

                                    Yes:                 6                      No:                  0

 

On a motion by Fischer, support from Holland, the Village Council removed from the table the rezoning of 440 E. Savidge Street.

 

                                    Yes:                 6                      No:                  0

 

On a motion by Fischer, support from Palma, the rezoning of 440 E. Savidge Street was added to item A of the report of the Village Clerk/Treasurer.                                

                                    Yes:                 6                      No:                  0

 

On a motion by Fischer, support from Palma, the Village Council approved rezoning 428 East Savidge, units A and B, and 440 E. Savidge Street to “Public” from “Single Family Residential B”.

 

                                    Yes:                 6                      No:                  0

 

 

VII.                            Report By the Village Manager

 

A.  Held a discussion to design a section of Lakeside Trail in conjunction with the Lake Pointe project at 917 West Savidge and authorized the village staff to negotiate the cost with the Lake Pointe project contractor when the contractor was determined by the Lake Pointe project owner.

 

Summary:  The fall was considered to be a favorable time to build the 280-foot section of Lakeside Trail north of the planned Lake Pointe condominiums.  The expected cost was between $35,000 ($125 per foot) and $56,000 ($200 per foot).  The lower estimate was from an engineer; the higher was from a landscape architect.  In both cases, these estimates included benches, trashcans and landscaping elements.   A total of $200,000 was encumbered for the entire 2,200 feet of path eventually needed. 

 

The remainder of the Lakeside Trail “gap completion” would be pursued via a Land and Water Conservation Development grant when the land rights east of Christman Street were secured.

 

On a motion by Holland, support from VanStrate, the Village Council authorized the Village Manager to have a 280 section of Lakeside Trail designed in conjunction with the Lake Pointe project and authorized the Village Manager to negotiate the actual terms with the Lake Pointe contractor for Village Council subsequent consideration and approval.

 

                                    Yes:                 6                      No:                  0

 

 

B.              Approved refinancing of the loan for 209 S. Park Street for a term of not more than three years and authorized the Village President and the Clerk/Treasurer to execute the necessary documents provided by Fifth Third and the Village Attorney.                                                                    

 

This action was needed to preserve the Village’s option of holding on to this property until the area to the north and west was ready for comprehensive redevelopment, as per the Downtown Master Plan.   The expected cost was approximately $5,000 per year and was budgeted in the Public Improvement Fund. A developer was working on this project and the Village staff was cooperating; yet the exact timetable was uncertain.  This option would enable the Village to preserve a 50-foot strip of waterfront to connect Mill Point Park with Tanglefoot Park over time.  There was no prepayment penalty when the property was sold.  The original option when the property was purchased was to finance it for only two years and put it back on the market for single family re-use with a 15 foot easement preserved.

 

     Council member VanStrate said that he felt it was too much money to             continue to hold the property.

 

      Council member Fischer said that the council couldn’t change their                  minds every year and that this along with the Creasy property were key          parcels and it was very premature to let the property slip through their           fingers. 

 

      Council member Holland concurred with Fischer and added that he                would rather see a development with a larger tax base than single family

      residents.

 

      Council member Filber also expressed his agreement and said that the            council should stay the course and look at a shorter duration of time to           sell the property.

 

     On a motion by Filber, support from Fischer, the village council approved

refinancing the loan for 209 S. Park Street for a term of up to three years and authorized the Village President and Clerk/Treasurer to execute the necessary closing documents provided by Fifth Third Bank and the Village Attorneys.

 

                              Yes:                 5                      No:                  1 (VanStrate)

 

VIII.        Reports by the Village Council:

 

                   Council member Palma inquired about purchasing a set of CD’s for                                    government officials.

 

                  Council member VanStrate asked if there where any comments concerning                     closing Jackson Street during the basketball tournament.

                                                                                                                                                                           Manager Cotton said that the closing had all worked out fine.

    

IX.                                    Statements of Citizens:

   

        No statements of citizens were presented.

    

X.     Executive Session:

 

On a motion by Fischer, support from Holland, the Village Council adjourned    into executive session at 8:10 p.m.

 

                                       Yes:                 6                      No:                  0

 

Resolved that the Village Council meet in executive session for reasons permitted by Section 8(C) of the Michigan Open Meetings Act, MCL 15.268 (e); MSA 4.1800(18)(e); as requested by the Village Manager, to confer with legal counsel on matters permitted by Section (e) of the Open Meetings Act.                               

 

On a motion by Fischer, support from Holland, the Village Council arose from executive session at 8:30 p.m.

 

                                                Yes:                 6                      No:                  0

 

XI. On a motion by Filber, support from Fischer, the Village Council authorized relocation assistance of up to $3000 from the Tax Increment Finance fund for the four tenants displaced by the Lake Pointe project.

 

                                                Yes:                 6                      No:                  0

 

 

XII.           Adjournment

 

On a motion by Holland, support from VanStrate, the Village Council adjourned at 8:35 pm.

 

                                                Yes:                 6                      No:                  0                     

 

 

 

 

 

 

______________________________________________

Daniel Keller, Village President

 

 

 

_______________________________________________

Maribeth Lawrence, Village Clerk/Treasurer